Paint pail and brush holder attachment for stepladders



Oct. 6, 1959 s, sLn 2,907,541

PAINT PAIL AND BRUSH HOLDER ATTACHMENT FOR STEPLADDERS Filed Jan. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 60 Fig./ 60g 50 Fig? Albert S. Hais/ip i INVENTOR.

M406 BY zsm Oct. 6, 1959 A. s. HAISLIP 2,907,541

PAINT FAIL AND BRUSH HOLDER ATTACHMENT FOR STEPLADDERS Filed Jan. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.7

Fig.9

' A/lwrf 5. Hal's/1p Y INVEN TOR.

\ BY M United States PatentO PAINT PAIL AND BRUSH HOLDER ATTACHll/IENT.

FOR STEPLADDERS The present presentation relates to paint receptacle and paint brush holding means, generally classified, and has reference to receptacle and brush holders singly and collectively and the combination therewith of means for approximately and handily mounting the same on an upper portion of a conventional stepladder, the several adaptations, in an assemblage sense, constituting an attachment for a stepladder.

Covered somewhat more particularly, the over-all concept has to do with a pail or equivalent receptacle holder, a paint brush holder and a foldable support member therefor which takes the form of an auxiliary extensiontype rail, the latter being hingedly mounted on the upper portion of one of the rails of the front leg frame of the ladder and said holders being slidably mounted or bracketed on the extension rail when the ladder is in its upstanding and therefore usable position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, expedient and practical stepladder attachment of the above briefly described character which is intended to be made and sold as a structural assemblage wherein each part contributes its proportionate share, in a combination sense, to the all-inclusive end which is, to supply a stepladder attachment having brush and pail holders and an attaching rail each holder characterized by a collar and the respective collars embracing and being slidably mounted on the extension rail and the pail and brushholding components thereof being on the same side of the rail and one above the other so that the paint brush, when not in use, is suspended with the bristles in alignment with the pail whereby any surplus paint is allowed to gravitate back-into the pail or bucket to not only minimize messiness but to retrieve what would otherwise be needlessly wasted paint.

Another aspect and objective herein under consideration is that the receptacle holder is such in construction and design that it functions to retain receptacles ranging from a shallow pan or the like to a deep bucket. vided with a depending hook-like finger and also an upstanding hook-like finger the holder also serves in a manner so that the bail of a pail may be hung thereon with the weight serving to cant and thus frictio-mbind the collar portion of the holder in a reliably held position on the extension rail.

In carrying out the principles of the invention, the holder for the paint brush is unique in that it comprises a length of resilient wire bent upon itself and fashioned into a rail embracingand clamping collar, the end portions of the wire being overlapped and directed at oblique angles toward a cooperatingsurface of said rail and the terminals being directed laterally away from said surface and providing prong like hangers, the junctional portions betweensaid overlapping end portions and said terminal hangers constituting detent-like bends and the latter being spring-biased into friction-binding engagement with said surface.

p In-addition to the above, novelty is predicated on the extension railitself characterized by an elongate linearly ice;

a 2 straight auxiliary rail, an adapter and spacing block having means whereby it may be fastened to the ladder rail below said pla'tform, means hingedly connecting the lower end of said auxiliary rail to the central portion of said block in superimposed position on said block, said block having a keeper pinhole therethrough, said lower end portion having longitudinally spaced keeper pinholes selectively registrable with said first namedkeeper pinhole, and a single insertable and'rernovable keeper pin selectively cooperable with all three of said keeper pinholes in the manner and for the purposes described.

Other objects and advantages of this invention which have to do with the arrangement, operation and functioning of the related components or parts of the overall assemblage, to the parts themselves and to the combination of the same and economies of manufacture and assemblage will become apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the views:

. Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the upper portion of a stepladder set up for use, the

Pro- U extension rail, a paint bucket or pail and the holder therefor set in a position to suspend the pail in an elevated position;

Figure 2 is a View related to Figure l and with parts in section and elevation, showing the details of the means for attaching the extension rail and also the adjustability of the paint pail holder;

Figure 3 is a section on the vertical line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the holder, by itself, for a pail, bucket or equivalent receptacle;

Figure 5 is a perspective view on a smaller scale and similarto Figure 1 arid the purpose of which is to show how the foldingextension rail looks when it is folded down to an out-of-the-way position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing both holders, the pail holder and brush holder, and how they are constructed and assembled for united use;

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6 with the brush holder in a down position where it is adjacent to the receptacle holder, the receptacle here being a pan which is held against displacement on the top step or platform; and, i

Figures 8 and 9 are exaggerated views in section and elevation showing the construction in detail of the paint brush holder and illustrating more particularly the released and clenched or clamped positions, respectively.

Figure 10 is a detail view of the paint pail holder.

With reference to Figures 1 and 5, for example, the

stepladder is conventional and comprises a front leg frame 10, a rear leg frame 12 and a platform or top step 14 to which the frames are hingedly joined. Since only the front leg frame is involved here, it is conveniently mentioned that it comprises customary uprights or rails 16 between which are horizontal ascending and descending steps 18.

As has already been pointed out, the concept in an over-all or combination sense has to do with the receptacle holder 20 (Fig. 4) the brush hanger and holder 22 (Figs. 8 and 9) and theadapting and attaching means which is referred to in a general sense by the numeral 24. The latter comprises a rigid linearly straight wooden or equivalent arm which is treated as an extension rail, that is, an extension of the left rail seen in the drawings. To take care of the situation an adapter and spacingblock 26 is provided (Fig. 2) and this is secured by bolts 28 to the rail 16 beneath the left-hand end portion of the platform or top step 14. The lower end portion 30 of the extension rail is superimposed thereon and hingedly bolted thereto as at 32, This construction permits the c 3 auxiliary or extension rail to be swung up to the extended useful position seen in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7 or to be swung down into the out-of-the-way folded position as seen in Fig. 5. To accomplish this, the lower end portion 30 has two keeper holes 34 and 36 therein and which register selectively with a complemental keeper hole 38 in the spacer block. An insertable and removable keeper pin is provided. This takes the form of a bolt the straight shank portion of which is screw-threaded as at 40 to accommodate an assembling and clamping nut 42. The outer end of the bolt is bent laterally to form a handle or finger-grip 42. Actually then this is an L- shaped keeper pin the shank of which may be passed through the holes 36 and 38 as seen in Fig. 2 or through the holes 34' and 38 as seen in Fig. 5.

As stated, this extension rail constitutes the support means for the holders 20 and 22. Both holders are formed from a length of wire and each is characterized by a collar which encircles or embraces the rail. More specifically, the receptacle or pail holder as shown in Fig. 4 is formed from a length of wire which is bent upon itself to form a rectangular slide or collar 44 which may be said to be a split collar. The end portions are pro vided with outstanding extensions 46 which are parallel and these terminate in hook-like fingers 48 and 50. The

I finger 48 is used in the manner seen, for example, in

Figs. 6 and 7, while the upstanding hook or finger 50 is used in the manner seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Take the latter figures, for example, here we see a bucket or pail 52'having a hinged or wire bail or handle 54 which is hung over the hook-like finger 50. At this time, the loop or collar, which is slightly loose, embraces therail and is canted slightly and friction binds or retains itself in place when a load or weight is imposed thereon. The load here is the paint containing bucket or pail hung or suspended as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the holder is used as seen in Fig. 6, the finger engages over the upper edge of the wall of the bucket while the bucket sits atop the platform 14. Since the holder is adjustable up and down, it may be moved all the way down so that the same finger. can be engaged over the rim or wall of the shallow pan or tray shown at '56 in Fig. 7 also sitting atop the platform. Studs or stops 58 and 60 may be provided on the upper and intermediate portions of the extension rail as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to prevent the holder from sliding off and getting lost.

Used in combination with the receptacle holder is the aforementioned brush holder. Here again, this is fashioned from a length of wire which is bent upon itself intermediate its ends to'define a rail embracing loop-like 'collar 62 (Figs. 8 and 9). The free end portions of the wire are. resilient and these end portions 64 are over- 4 the pail holder so that the two make it possible to hold the brush over the receptacle or can to catch the drippings in the latter.

It is of importance to mention that the auxiliary rail may also constitute a brace, that is, a safety handle since the user of the ladder might care to rely upon it to assist in maintaining balance while standing near the upper part of the ladder or dipping paint or hanging up the brush as the case may be.

With further reflection on the disclosure of the subject matter of invention under consideration, it is to be stated that the two holders 20 and 22, respectively, are not to be construed as lacking cooperation with each other and the auxiliary rail 24. Actually, the several components 20, 22 and 24 are intir'nately associated and cooperable. Each contributes its proportionate share to the over-all objectives under consideration. For example, both holders are characterized by a similarly constructed collar portion. Manifestly, the holder 20 of Fig. 4 is of rigid wire and when it is used by itself it is canted to assume a given usable position. However, and in other instances, than that seen in Fig. 7, is also within the purview of the invention to re -arrange the holders or brackets in a manner similar to that seen in Fig. 7 except that the positions of the brackets or holders are reversed. That is to say, the resilient yieldable friction retained holder or bracket 22 may be placed directly under the rigid and freely slidable bracket 20 so that the two brackets are one above the other and each aids the other in bringing about more reliable results. That is to say, the position shown in Fig. 10 the bracket or holder 22 becomes-a clamp as well as a stop for the rigid bracket or holder 20. It follows that the two collar-equipped brackets or holders 20 and 22 are singly and collectively usable, are such that they may be slipped on and ofi? of the auxiliary rail 24 and may be used in the manner shown, for example, in Figs. 1 and 2 on the one hand, Figs. 6 and 7 respectively on the other hand, all as in Fig. 10. That is to say, it is not so much the matter of use and adaptability that is at stake but rather the physical or tangible characteristics of the several components 20, 22 and 24 which are of significant importance when used atop the platform of a stepladder. 1

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inlapped and they are respectively directed in obliqueangled positions toward the cooperating surface 66 of the rail. Actually the terminals or ends of the wire are bent out in spaced parallelism and at right angles to the end portions 64 so that they provide prong-like members 68 and 70. These may be used either as handles or as holders for the apertured handle of the paint brush 72 I in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The right angular bends 74 provide detents which frictionally engage the surface and serve to clampingly maintain the holder in the positions to which it may be moved.

Because the brush holder 22 is self-clamping it prevents shifting once it is arranged in a given position. The springy end portions 64 and their corner bends 74 provide the intended clenching and retaining result. Hence, the holder stays firmly put and secure. The holders may be used individually or collectively. They are preferably sold incombination with the readily attachable and detachable extension rail. Hence, the rail constitutes a common support member for the two holders and both are slidable toward and from each other and maybe used to accomplish the varying results set forth. Particularly is. it to be noted that the brush holder is above vention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A readilyapplicable and removable attachment for a conventional-type stepladder having the usual platform at the top thereof comprising, in combination, a rail which is linearly straight and of limited but prescribed cross-section, one end portion of said rail being constructed and provided with means whereby said one end may be fastened to the upper portion of the stepladder with the median and upper end portions of the rail then extending above the platform, a bracket of rigid wire having a collar portion loosely embracing and freely slidable along said rail to occupy a position either close to or remote from said platform, a portion of the collar being disposed for cooperation with the inwardly disposed vertical side of said rail having spaced apart ends, one end being bent vertically to extend upwardly and the other end being bent vertically to extend downwardly toward said platform and said bent ends being selectively usable.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and in combination, asecond bracket having a resilient self-gripping 75 rail embracing collar, said collar being adapted to yieldingly and securely embrace the rail either above or bea conventional-type stepladder comprising, in combination, an elongated rail, the lower end portion of said rail being constructed and adapted to be attached to an upper portion of one of the vertical side rails of the ladder in a manner that the median and upper portions of the rail then extend vertically above the plane of the platform of the ladder, and a holder embodying a self-gripping frictionretained rail embracing and retaining collar threaded on said rail and moveable vertically along the length of the rail and having outstanding terminal ends constituting finger grips which when pressed together serve to release the gripping tension of thecollar on the rail and when released serve to impose the gripping tension in a manner to fasten the collar on the rail, said holder being formed from a length of resilient wire bent upon itself and fashioned into the aforementioned rail embracing and clamping collar, the end portions of the wire being overlapped and directed at oblique angles toward the cm operating surface of said rail and the terminals being directed laterally away from the surface of the rail and providing prong-like members, the junctional portions between said overlapping end portions and said terminal'portions constituting detent-like bends and the lat ter being spring biased into friction binding engagement with the surface of the rail, and a second holder made of rigid Wire and having a collar embracing said rail and freely slidable on the rail and provided with upwardly and downwardly directed terminal end portions and said collar being adapted to rest atop the first named collar so that the first namedcollar constitutes a stop and a support for the second named collar.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 

